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Japanese Maples Fall Color

'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back.  'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini
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Perhaps the most famous lily of all...

 
"Star Gazer" 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the beloved "Star Gazer" lily which is blooming right now next to a bench in our vegetable garden. This morning I noticed a hummingbird fluttering around it. Despite the location being shaded most of the day, it has performed nicely here for years. The only requirement is a stake to keep the winds and storms from knocking it down.

This lily has quite a history, filled with legal issues, tainted friendships and lost fortunes. Leslie Woodriff, of Brookings, Oregon was passionate about hybridizing oriental lilies and begonias but a little disorganized and short on business sense. Enter businessman Ted Kirsch, who created Sun Valley Farms in the late 60s in Arcata, California. Kirsch recognized Woodriff's talent and offered him and his family jobs at his nursery in exchange for his lily collection. Woodriff, in dire financial straits and suffering from health problems, took him up on the offer.

Woodriff's lily collection was cultivated at Sun Valley Farms and Kirsch quickly saw potential in the lily that would become the world famous "Star Gazer". He applied for a patent in 1976 for although he credited Woodriff as the lily's creator, he had bought the collection and the rights to name and patent them. 

Relations between the two turned sour when Kirsch fired Woodriff less than a year after their agreement. Kirsch stated that Woodriff and his family were unemployable, failed to take orders from supervisors, never showed up for work on time and were removing lilies from the premises. Woodriff filed a breach of contract stating the contrary. In the spring of 1974, a judge awarded the Woodriffs $5,000 in recognition of transferred property but rejected the Woodriff's claim that the lily collection could generate great profits in the future.

The saga ended bleakly for Woodriff who felt that he had been cheated out of the "Star Gazer" fortune but Ted Kirsch didn't get rich either. He sold 3,000 bulbs to a Dutch company for $15,000 in 1976 but, in a written contract, agreed not to apply for grower's rights in Holland. The Dutch went on to sell millions of the lily without having to pay royalties to Kirsch.

Kirsch and Woodriff died within one year of each other, Kirsch in 1996 and Woodriff in 1997. There are 36 million "Star Gazer" lilies sold annually.

If you'd like to read more about this fascinating story, check out "Flower Confidential" by Amy Stewart.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)July 1, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Ah bulbs, you can always rely on the Dutch to sell bulbs with gusto. They turned tulips into a currency at one point in history.

    Stargazer is justifibly popular.

    That's such a sharp image you've taken by the way.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowJuly 1, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    I didn't know this story. I am glad you brought it to our attention. I just love this lily. It has stained more than one blouse and tablecloth at my house. It smells so good too.

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  3. UnknownJuly 1, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    Piękna Ci ona ,,uwielbiam ich piękno i dostojność .....pozdrawiam Bogusia.

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  4. LarryJuly 1, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    Beautiful... our lilies should open any minute now! I haven't checked on them this afternoon but it's 105 heat index and i suspect that should be an encouragement to them! Larry

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  5. UnknownJuly 1, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    That has to be the most beautiful lily I have ever seen. No wonder it has sold millions. I have a space for them in my back garden. When do I plant lilies, spring or fall?

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  6. F CameronJuly 1, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    It is stunning!

    I moved my 'Starfighter' (a sibling) beside my monarda 'Raspberry Wine' but the bee balm bloomed early and the lily still hasn't bloomed. So much for timing! Maybe next year!

    Do you grow regal lily? It's supposed to be deer resistant, maybe because it grows so tall? LOL

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  7. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    I'm still waiting on mine to bloom. Looks like maybe another week or so. Mary

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  8. CrystalJuly 1, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    What a sob story, it sucks when creative people don't get to profit from their genius, due to bad business sense or just plain bad luck. Thanks for sharing, your Stargazers are stunning!

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  9. serial tillerJuly 1, 2011 at 9:51 PM

    I can almost smell these thru the screen! I love stargazers (heck I love all lilies!)

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  10. JessJuly 2, 2011 at 6:26 AM

    Plants coming from a long line of vultures :)

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  11. compost in my shoeJuly 2, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Great history lesson. I just love them in the garden where the fragrance can spread out without harming anyone's delicate fragrance issues.

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  12. LesJuly 2, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    I'll remember it as the flower at our wedding, and not part of an ugly, but fascinating story.

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  13. Dee/reddirtramblingsJuly 5, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    So interesting. I grew it for years, but I guess the heat finally made it disappear. I do love it though.~~Dee

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  14. sweetbayJuly 5, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Interesting story... didn't sound like either man had a whole lot of business sense..

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  15. AnonymousJuly 5, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    wonderful story!

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